Normal levels and reasons for testing

A random glucose test is one method for measuring the amount of glucose or sugar circulating in a person’s blood. For a glucose tolerance test, normal ranges are typically 140 milligrams per deciliter or lower.

Doctors perform this test and use the result to determine whether a person is likely to have diabetes. While other tests may be necessary to confirm a full diagnosis, a random glucose test may help a doctor decide if additional testing is needed.

This article examines what a random glucose test is, why a doctor may recommend it, and what the results can mean.

Random glucose testing measures a person’s blood glucose levels at any given point in the day. Blood glucose is also known as blood sugar.

Many blood tests for diabetes involve either fasting or continuous monitoring, but this test does not.

It is useful for people who need a speedy diagnosis, such as those with type 1 diabetes who require urgent supplementary insulin.

How does the test work?

Glucose is a form of sugar. It is the body’s primary energy source and fuels every cell — including those in the brain, heart, and muscles.

Glucose mainly comes from food and drink people consume. The body also breaks down stored forms of the carbohydrate glycogen into glucose.

The body works continuously to keep the amount of blood glucose at optimum levels. It produces a hormone called insulin to achieve this, which helps glucose get into the cells that need it for energy.

A person with type 1 diabetes does not produce insulin as their body no longer makes insulin.

Someone with type 2 diabetes either does not produce enough insulin, or their body does not respond to it appropriately.

When a person does not make insulin correctly, glucose remains in the blood. Hyperglycemia occurs when levels remain consistently high, and hypoglycemia occurs when they are too low.

Random glucose testing is one way of checking glucose levels in the blood. Doctors may perform this test at any time of day.

If the result indicates that a person has higher than expected glucose levels, the doctor will typically order a follow-up test to confirm the diagnosis. This can include:

• Fasting glucose test: This measures blood glucose levels after the person has had nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours. Doctors usually perform this test in the morning before breakfast.
• Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): People with diabetes can sometimes demonstrate normal results in the fasting or random glucose tests yet still have diabetes. If a doctor still suspects that a person has diabetes, they may recommend an OGTT. This test also requires that a person not eat or drink for 8 hours. After an initial blood sample, the individual drinks a liquid containing glucose. The doctor then takes more blood samples hourly over the next 2 hours.

A doctor may recommend a random blood glucose test if a person shows symptoms of diabetes. These symptoms may include:

• urinating more often
• feeling extremely thirsty
• feeling very hungry despite eating enough
• unexplained weight loss
• extreme fatigue or tiredness
• blurred vision
• slow healing of cuts and bruises

Type 2 diabetes can often develop slowly, which might make initial symptoms difficult to detect.

People with diabetes may also experience a sensation of tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, called diabetic neuropathy. This is more likely to occur if a person does not control blood glucose for extended periods.

Louise Morales-BrownADULTHOOD T1D

A chance discovery

The lingering mention of diabetes obviously became stuck in my head, as I made a passing comment to my manager about the optician’s question. He called over our colleague who had type 1 diabetes and suggested that out of curiosity, we use his blood glucose meter to check my glucose levels. Read full article

Was this helpful?

A random glucose test is a quick test that a doctor or nurse can perform at short notice in their office or clinic. The person does not need to fast beforehand.

The test requires a small blood sample using a needle, often from the finger.

Doctors measure the amount of glucose in a person’s blood in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl).

For a random glucose test, a result of 200 mg/dl or above indicates that a person may have diabetes. However, the doctor will usually repeat the test on another day for a more reliable diagnosis.

To help confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may also order a different type of test, such as a fasting glucose test or an OGTT.

Results of a fasting glucose test indicate the following:

• Normal: less than 100 mg/dl
• Prediabetes: 100–125 mg/dl
• Diabetes: 126 mg/dl or above

Results of an OGTT indicate the following:

• Normal: less than 140 mg/dl
• Prediabetes: 140–199 mg/dl
• Diabetes: 200 mg/dl or above

One 2015 study suggests that one random glucose test with a reading of over 100 mg/dl is a greater risk factor for diabetes than traditional factors, such as obesity.

Prediabetes means that a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than usual, but doctors do not yet consider that they have diabetes. Doctors sometimes call this impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG).

People with prediabetes are at increased risk of developing diabetes. Lifestyle modifications, such as weight loss and exercise, and certain medications can help reduce this risk.

Blood glucose levels change throughout the day, depending on various factors.

These might include a person’s food intake, as well as the duration and intensity of any exercise or physical activity that day. However, people without diabetes tend to stay within the expected range of blood glucose levels.

The following factors may increase a person’s blood glucose levels:

• eating too much food
• low levels of physical activity
• medication side effects
• illness
• stress
• pain
• menstruation
• dehydration

The following factors may decrease a person’s blood glucose levels:

• eating little or no food
• drinking alcohol
• medication side effects
• intense physical activity or exercise

Diagnosis with any chronic condition can be distressing, and, without treatment, diabetes can lead to serious health problems and complications. These can include:

• heart disease
• stroke
• chronic kidney disease
• vision problems
• oral health issues
• nerve damage

However, with effective treatment and management, people with diabetes can enjoy a long and active life.

Doctors usually diagnose type 1 diabetes in children and young adults. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin daily and regularly monitor their blood glucose levels for life.

Type 2 diabetes often develops later in life. A person can sometimes manage type 2 diabetes using only diet and exercise. Other people may need medication or insulin to keep their blood glucose levels within the healthy range.

A random glucose test measures the amount of glucose or sugar circulating in a person’s blood. They will not need to fast before the test takes place.

Doctors perform this test to determine whether a person may have diabetes. A random glucose test may help a doctor establish if additional testing is needed to make a full diagnosis.

Anyone with symptoms of diabetes should contact their doctor for an evaluation.

Questions and Answers on diabetes symptoms — Diabetes Action

Use the chart below to help understand how different test results can indicate pre-diabetes or diabetes

	Fasting Blood Glucose	Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)	Random Blood Sugar (taken any time of day with or without fasting)	A1C
Ideal Result	Less than 100mg/dl	Less than 140 mg/dl	Less than 140 (even after eating a large meal)	Less than 5.7%
Pre-diabetes	100-125mg/dl	140-199mg/dl	140-200	5. 7% to 6.4%
Diabetes	126mg/dl and greater	200 mg/dl and greater	200 or greater	6.5% or more

Q: Can an alcohol body odor, profuse sweating, constant desire for sweets, and constant thirst be signs of diabetes? 
A: When there is excess sugar circulating in the bloodstream, not getting into the muscles because of insufficiency or malfunctioning of insulin, the body may begin to break down fat at a rapid rate to provide energy to “hungry” tissues. This can cause the odor you are referring to. The other symptoms you describe can also indicate high blood sugar. I suggest you see your physician ASAP.

Q: How does diabetes affect your thinking process? Under medications such as insulin do diabetics still suffer from attitude swings? 
A: With or without diabetes, when blood sugars are not in balance, fatigue, dizziness, “fuzzy” thinking, mood swings and other symptoms may result. With insulin-requiring diabetes, it can be even more challenging to maintain stable blood sugars, but is very achievable with the right monitoring and support. Having a disease like diabetes does provide greater challenges for stable health and moods, but does not negate the ability to attain and maintain them.

Q: I don’t have diabetes so why do I feel dizzy and shaky whenever I am anxious or hungry?
A: It sounds like you are experiencing low blood sugar. If you eat mostly carbohydrates, especially refined ones, you may be carb sensitive leading to low blood sugar symptoms after eating. Anxiety releases stress hormones that can cause your blood sugar to quickly rise and then fall.  It is important for you to manage your eating patterns to better balance protein, fat and the “right” carbs.  

Q: Do I have diabetes with fasting sugar levels only a little on the high side? They have varied from 102 to 110 for the last 10 years. However my sugar level after eating food has always been within the limit, varying from 110 to 130
A: You are what we term “pre-diabetic” with fasting blood sugars between 100 -125. One or two sessions with a nutritionist should get you going in the right direction to help you achieve a goal of being around 90 for a fasting level. And of course, regular exercise and activity are most important. If you haven’t done so, get a thorough physical, including an A1C (average measure of 3 months of blood sugars). This will give you some sense of the areas you need to focus on. All is manageable.

Q: My 66 year old father has diabetes. He has been getting very dry patches of skin on his back mostly. They turn a little scaly and itch very badly. Is this a typical symptom of diabetes? What do you suggest for relief? 
A: Eczema can result from diabetes, especially when blood sugar levels have been out of range. He may also be low in essential fats such as those found in fish oil. Inadequate hydration is another factor to consider.  I suggest for immediate relief, check with your pharmacist to see if there is a prescription that might help.  In the herbal world, lavender can be very beneficial, but the oil would need to be a pure lavender oil.   Adding oatmeal or baking soda to a warm bath can help keep the skin moist, a key to quelling the itching.  Rubbing aloe vera juice on the skin can also be effective.  This is inexpensive and available and in most drug stores and some grocery stores.

Q: Why do I get a headache and start to feel nauseous when I eat or drink something sweet?
A: It sounds as if you are carb sensitive, meaning the refined, simple carbohydrates such as sweets, are rapidly digested, lifting your blood sugar quickly but then rapidly “dropping” you back down. This is especially likely to happen if no other foods eaten along with the simple carb foods. It would be very wise for you to avoid these foods as much as possible. Have you had your blood sugar tested? Now would be a good time to follow a healthy lifestyle, eating whole, unrefined foods and staying active. Balancing our metabolisms is an ongoing and fine tuning process, challenged by the environment we live in and the daily stresses of life. It is doubly important to nourish ourselves well in order to combat the elements we can’t control.

Q: I have a 3 year old grandson. Now and then he has a slight shaking if he doesn’t eat right. I am thinking his sugar is low. Would you please tell me what a child’s count should be.
A: Right now, we have the same glucose ranges for chilren and adults for a diagnosis of diabetes. 126 or greater is diabetes. 80-90 fasting is a good range. Low blood sugar can range from 60-80 depending on the person and other conditions/medications. If you haven’t already done so, check with his pediatrician. If fasting sugars are normal and his symptoms persist, you may want to inquire about a 2 hour glucose tolerance test to see if he is in the correct range post-meal. In general, start him now on healthy foods, limiting sweets and juices. Be sure he has some form of protein at each meal. You may notice improvement.

Q: Why do my fingers always feel numb and cold? 
A: I am assuming that you are asking this question because you have diabetes. Reduced circulation and/or numbing in hands/feet can be a result of fluctuation blood sugars over many years. You should mention this to your physician. Be sure you inspect your feet daily to be sure you do not have any unfelt splinters, etc. Most importantly, do everything you can to keep your blood sugars in a good range.

Q: Is it possible to have diabetes with frequent urination without excessive thirst? I have frequent urination (have to get up 5-7 times during the night, yet only drank 3 glasses of water the entire day and before 7pm). My reading at fasting was 118; reading 2 hours after a meal (spinach salad and chicken) was 207. So it seems like I have some of the classic symptoms. However, I am NEVER thirsty and I actually have to force myself to drink the 2-3 glasses of water that I do drink. 
A: I would hope repeat testing has been suggested, particularly since you are still showing symptoms. 126 fasting, twice, means a diagnosis of diabetes. At 118, yours is a diagnosis of impaired fasting glucose. If you haven’t already started, it is most important that you now follow a healthy lifestyle. It may be helpful to get a hemoglobin A1C to get a 3 month blood sugar average. It may be that you are experiencing higher daytime blood sugars. You may also benefit by a visit to an endocrinologists if you are not getting resolutions from your current medical team.

Q: Should I be concerned that my 13 year old son has been very tired and had a 145 blood sugar reading? My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 last year when she was 7. I’m not sure if this reading was normal after eating and drinking. 
A: That is a bit high. Is his tiredness an isolated instance? If you are concerned, you can request his levels be checked. If you have an endocrinologist, inquire about testing that may identify a predisposition to diabetes. Meanwhile, I suggest you actively work on dietary changes with him. Because you have one child who is already diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to have your entire family eating healthfully and leading an active lifestyle. Even when taking insulin, good lifestyle habits are what sustain a higher quality of life.

Q: Diabetes runs in my family so I am concerned that I am going to the bathroom much more often. I do drink a good amount of diet colas.
A: Lots of diet colas can be irritating since caffeine acts as a diuretic. Are you rapidly losing weight or showing other symptoms of diabetes? Start by stopping the sodas, and see if this doesn’t make a difference. If not, I suggest you see your physician. If you have any burning or irritation, it may also be that you have a bladder/kidney infection.

Q: Is hair loss is a symptom of diabetes?
A: Have you consulted an endocrinologist about this? Your hair loss could be related to a condition called “alopecia”, involving hormone imbalance. Poor diets can also be a cause, especially when B vitamins are lacking. I suggest you truly look at your lifestyle/eating habits and put forth fine tuning efforts here, and consult for further screenings if the condition persists.

Q: Are the following symptoms of diabetes?: very dry skin on my face, slight hair loss, a very sweet taste in my mouth, weight gain, difficulty losing weight, increased acne, tingling feeling all over, irritability, sometimes nausea, sometimes shaky if I don’t eat right away. I’ve been on the Atkins diet for the last 3 months, and have lost about 20 pounds. I run on a treadmill for about 50 minutes at least 4 or 5 times a week. 
A: By now, if these symptoms are persisting, I trust you have seen your doctor for a check-up/screening. The Atkins diet is not for everyone; a protein emphasis of the right kinds and balance can be beneficial for metabolic control. Some people do better with vegetarian proteins such as beans. Getting Metabolic/Lipid/Thyroid Panels done will let you know where you are in the ranges. From there, you may need to reassess your dietary habits.

Q: Is it a sign of diabetes that my 14 month old twin boys have had yeast infections on their bottoms for the past two and a half months? I have tried everything but no relief from the symptoms.
A: Definitely discuss this with your physician. Your sons should be given probiotics such as acidophilus whenever taking antibiotics. Yogurt and Kefir are two great foods if they’ll eat them. Their diet is also very important: good protein sources and lots of greens, no white/unrefined foods. If you have any integrative medicine practitioners in your area, they would have a better handle on non-pharmacological approaches.

Q: Should I be concerned about being diabetic with the following readings: Fasting blood sugar between 80 to 100; 200 one hour after a meal?
A: You are showing readings of hyperglycemia. The ideal fasting blood glucose reading is less than 100. The ideal post-meal blood glucose reading is less than 140. 140-200 post meal/random reading is considered pre-diabetes. There is a greater movement among diabetes management practitioners to emphasize the importance of post meal control. This is because blood sugar excursions contribute to higher oxidative stress, which in turn may cause increased tissue damage leading to greater risk of complications. This seems to be more true than chronic sustained high blood sugars, such as only high fasting levels. I suggest you carefully reevaluate your daytime eating, perhaps being more careful of carb intake and type and follow up with your health care practitioner.

Q: Should I be concerned that my glucose level has gone slightly but steadily up over the past year and a half: 99, 104 and today 106 but I have none of the usual diabetes symptoms, have loads of energy, exercise a great deal at recreational sports, and eat wisely? I do have a family history of diabetes.
A: It sounds like you are on a good path geared towards a healthy lifestyle. You may want to seek professional nutritional counseling to fine tune if you are not already very aware of such issues as the impact of carbohydrates. You are still maintaining a low pre-diabetes status. There are nutritional supplements such as water soluble cinnamon that may also be helpful in keeping your blood sugars down. Be certain too that you stay well hydrated by drinking lots of water. If you maintain these numbers and don’t go any higher, you should do well.

Q: Why do I have a constant sweet taste in my mouth? I have seen my doctor and had a sugar fasting test and I do not have diabetes though I have been asked to lose weight. 
A: I suggest you consult an endocrinologist to determine/rule out other possible causes of a metabolic imbalance. You may also want an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test to see if your blood sugars are normal post meal over a 2 hour period. Regardless of these outcomes, be very clear that you are now eating “properly”. Your thyroid may be a bit compromised so be sure you get 20-30 grams of protein for breakfast.

Q: Do I have diabetes if my glucose blood test readings have gone up from 94 to 102 over past 2 years. 
A: 102 is a diagnosis of pre-diabetes. A fasting level anywhere from 100-125 is considered pre-diabetes. Two fasting levels of 126 or greater is a diagnosis of diabetes. If you haven’t already made significant lifestyle changes, now is the time to do so to prevent diabetes in the future. Stay dedicated to maintaining a good amount of daily activity and exercise.

Q: Do I need to do anything about an A1C score of 7.4? I was taking steroid for pain in my back. I have been checking morning sugar levels and after a month it has not been over 120. 
A: Your numbers are high on both accounts. I suggest you aggressively tackle your lifestyle habits, focusing on dietary/exercise interventions. Steroids can elevate blood sugars, but for short term doses, there should not be a problem. Work to get your fasting blood sugars under 100, closer to 90. This will in turn lower your A1C to under 6.0. If, after a few months, you are not successful, seek physician intervention. If unclear about diet, etc., seek professional guidance.

Q: I am 39 and was diagnosed with diabetes about a month ago, all my symptoms (thirst, frequent urination, dry mouth etc.) started after having 2 steroid shots for a sore throat and then I was on prednisone for my back. Could I have gotten diabetes from that? My sugar was over 425. Now in the morning is around 103-120. After meals 148-193. How long will it take to get normal.
A: I wish I could give you a definitive answer, but I can’t. Yes, prednisone can be a trigger for diabetes, and with following a healthy lifestyle, diabetes can be resolved to more normal blood sugars. Certainly, you are reporting much better blood sugars, in the pre-diabetes range. I suggest you discuss this with your physician, and if needed, be referred to an endocrinologist for some more definitive answers regarding the endocrine system and what may be manifesting with you. At the least, ask your pharmacist the time frame you can expect to see your course of prednisone finished. If you have a family history of diabetes, the prednisone may very well have been your trigger, particularly if you weren’t following a healthy lifestyle. Time will tell; good lifestyle management is a “must.”

Information on the “Question and Answer” pages should not be relied on for medical or technical advice. Always consult your healthcare team. Diabetes Action and Jane DeVane cannot be responsible for errors or wrongful use of the information available on this website. The information provided on this site is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician/medical team.

GB1 Kopeysk – Diabetes. Questions and answers

Diabetes mellitus is a disease caused by a complete or relative deficiency of insulin (a hormone from the pancreas), which results in an increase in blood sugar and disturbances in energy metabolism, sometimes very significant.

Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases that manifest in a similar way but have different causes. Type 1 diabetes mellitus occurs in childhood or young age, proceeds rapidly, is characterized by a strong feeling of thirst, carries the risk of a significant disruption of energy metabolism, and is treated with insulin. Type 2 diabetes is more common in the elderly, often accompanied by obesity, its symptoms are not as obvious as in type 1 diabetes, treatment can be started with a diet or taking antidiabetic drugs – in the form of tablets. Diabetes mellitus can also be caused by other diseases (so-called specific types of diabetes), such as diseases of the pancreas, and it can be caused by treatment with corticosteroids.

• How does diabetes manifest itself?

It is manifested by fatigue, thirst, excretion of large amounts of urine, weight loss, inflammation of the bladder and kidneys, furunculosis can be observed. If diabetes is not treated for a long time, it can lead to a complete disruption of the basic functions of the human body, dehydration, loss of consciousness, and even death. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is characterized by a sharp manifestation and development of all the symptoms of the disease. Type 2 diabetes mellitus develops more slowly, its signs are less pronounced, they may not appear outwardly at all until late complications of diabetes appear.

• Can diabetes occur without symptoms?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus often does not manifest itself at the onset of the disease and can be detected during a preventive examination by an increase in blood glucose levels and the appearance of sugar in the urine.

• Is diabetes hereditary?

Yes, both types of diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, can be inherited in a certain way, more precisely, predisposition to this disease is transmitted, and it depends on external influences whether a particular person will develop diabetes or not.

• Can drugs or other illnesses cause diabetes?

This type of diabetes is called secondary diabetes mellitus (or a specific type of diabetes). Certain medications, such as corticosteroids used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases, asthma, a number of non-specific intestinal diseases, skin diseases, and other autoimmune diseases, can trigger the development of this diabetes. Diabetes mellitus can appear as a symptom of pancreatic disease, with some endocrine diseases, severe infectious diseases. Some diseases, more often viral, long-term stress can trigger diabetes or worsen the course of existing diabetes.

• What is Impaired Glucose Tolerance?

Previously, this condition was called “latent” (sleeping, asymptomatic) diabetes mellitus. It is detected only in a laboratory analysis, with the so-called glucose tolerance test, when a patient drinks a glucose solution (75 g in 100 ml of water) and, according to the level of glucose in the blood after 2 hours, it turns out how completely his body is able to assimilate this glucose. This test measures the ability of the pancreas to produce the required amount of insulin per meal. In case of violation of glucose tolerance, medical supervision, diet, sufficient physical activity are necessary.

• When is diabetes diagnosed?

If the patient has symptoms typical of diabetes mellitus (thirst, heavy urination, weight loss), a blood sugar test is sufficient. If its level in capillary blood on an empty stomach is more than 6.1 mmol / l (double definition) – this is diabetes mellitus. If the patient does not have symptoms typical for diabetes, but there is only a suspicion of diabetes mellitus, a glucose tolerance test is performed, the principle of which is described above. According to the body’s reaction to this load (glycemia level after 2 hours more than 11.1 mmol / l) it is determined whether it is really diabetes mellitus or only a violation of glucose tolerance (glycemia level after 2 hours more than 7.8 mmol / l) .

• Is it possible to plan a pregnancy with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus?

Yes. However, before pregnancy (about 1 year) and throughout pregnancy, it is necessary to strictly control the compensation of the disease and adequately treat diabetes. During pregnancy, it is necessary to inject insulin, tablet preparations are not used so as not to harm the fetus and not endanger its life. To assess the compensation of the disease, it is necessary to control the level of glycated hemoglobin once every 3 months.

• Can I go in for sports and work if I have diabetes?

If you have diabetes, you can go in for sports, do physical work. Usually, physical education and increased physical activity are desirable. This increases tissue sensitivity to insulin and helps maintain optimal weight. With heavy loads, it is necessary to consult a doctor, prescribe a diet and doses of insulin or hypoglycemic drugs, taking into account the load, so as not to cause hypoglycemia (a strong decrease in sugar levels). With regard to work, the patient should choose an occupation with the ability to maintain a proper diet, with uniform physical activity throughout the week. For patients with diabetes and the risk of hypoglycemia, occupations where the patient could harm himself or others are unsuitable – work at height, associated with high voltage current, driving a car, construction machines, etc.

• How to treat diabetes?

The main goal of treatment is to achieve normal blood sugar levels and maintain this level throughout life. This is necessary to prevent complications of diabetes. Treatment is based on changing the optimal physical activity and diet. It is necessary to achieve weight loss with its excess. If physical activity and diet are not enough to achieve normal sugar levels, it is necessary to connect antidiabetic drugs (tablets or insulin). Type 1 diabetes requires insulin treatment from the start of the diagnosis, as it is associated with primary damage to the cells of the pancreas.

• What should be the diet for diabetes?

A diabetic diet is not just about cutting out sugar, sweets and sugary foods. Each patient should have an individually formulated diet with a certain amount of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and calories so that the blood sugar level is normal, fat metabolism is not disturbed, the patient has an ideal weight and maintains it. Simple sugars, which are rapidly absorbed, should be excluded from the diet, causing a sharp rise in blood sugar. The total amount of carbohydrates should be 55-60%, with a predominance of coarse fiber, fats – 25-30% (with a predominance of vegetable fats), proteins – 15-20%.

• Do I need to diet if I take tablets or insulin?

Yes, you must! Diet (rational nutrition) is necessary for every patient, even if he must take pills or insulin.

• What if I don’t diet?

If the diet is not observed, there is a risk of poor compensation with the risk of complications. If you do not follow the diet and increase the doses of drugs or doses of insulin, the patient may gain weight, worsen the sensitivity of cells to insulin, diabetes treatment will fall into a vicious circle. The only way to avoid these complications is to adjust the diet in such a way as to normalize and maintain weight.

• Why can some patients take pills while others need insulin right away?

It depends on the type of diabetes. In patients with type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce insulin and therefore insulin must be used from the very beginning of the disease. In patients with type 2 diabetes, the lack of insulin is only relative, often at the initial stage of the disease it is enough to follow a diet and take medications that improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin or increase its secretion by pancreatic cells. If treatment with tablets ceases to help, it is necessary to start injecting insulin.

• How many times a day do you need to “shot” insulin?

When treating diabetes, we strive to keep blood sugar levels in line with those of healthy people. Different schemes of insulin administration are used, which depend on the type of diabetes and the course of the disease. Often in young patients and patients with complications, intensive regimens of insulin therapy are used, i.e. the patient injects insulin 3-5 times a day. In elderly patients, the number of insulin injections is reduced to avoid hypoglycemia and depends on the course of the disease.

• How to evaluate the quality of diabetes care?

A well-compensated patient should feel like a healthy person, without experiencing intense thirst or hunger, his body weight is maintained at an ideal level, and there is no loss of consciousness due to hypoglycemia. How well diabetes is compensated can be found out with a blood and urine test for sugar. When properly treated, urine does not contain sugar. Blood sugar levels should be monitored at home throughout the day for the correct selection of the diet and dose of the drug. Once every 3 months, it is necessary to determine the level of glycated hemoglobin, which can be used to judge diabetes compensation for this period, which is currently the main criterion for compensating carbohydrate metabolism.

• What is hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia is a condition caused by low blood sugar. This occurs as a result of a discrepancy between the intake of sugar from food and the consumption of sugar associated with physical activity or the intake of an inadequate dose of hypoglycemic drugs. Hypoglycemia often occurs when the patient falls asleep and forgets to eat, when the insulin dose is not sufficiently reduced due to poor appetite, or as a result of increased physical activity. With mild hypoglycemia, the patient experiences hunger, with more severe – sweating, weakness, with severe – loss of consciousness may occur

• How can hypoglycemia be avoided and treated?

Hypoglycemia can be avoided by following a proper diet. With the expected increase in load, you need to increase the intake of carbohydrates with food, maybe even reduce the dose of insulin. Hypoglycemia should be treated already at the initial stage – give the patient sweet tea, cookies, candy. In a severe condition, it becomes necessary to inject a glucose solution into a vein or intramuscularly inject glucagon. The drug glucagon is desirable to have in patients with a tendency to hypoglycemia, since it can be administered by the patient himself or by a relative.

•How often should I visit an endocrinologist?

It depends on the type of diabetes, the method of treatment and the state of compensation. Patients with type 2 diabetes with good compensation, once every 3 months is enough, patients with complications of diabetes and an intensive insulin regimen need monthly monitoring. But a trained patient can help himself in compensating for diabetes by doing his own blood tests during the day with a glucometer (a device for measuring blood sugar levels).

• What are the complications of diabetes?

Complications may be early or late, involving small vessels (microangiopathy) or large vessels (macroangiopathy). Early complications include the following: ketoacidosis (with poor compensation, ketone bodies are formed – products of fat metabolism, which, together with high blood sugar levels, can lead to disruption of the functions of the main biological systems of the body with the threat of loss of consciousness and death), hypoglycemia

Late complications occur with prolonged, poorly compensated diabetes. The eyes may be affected (retinal changes with a risk of blindness), kidneys (renal failure may develop with the need for hemodialysis), the vessels of the lower extremities are affected (which can lead to gangrene with the need for amputation), the gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system and the nervous system are affected. system. The doctor’s task is to acquaint the patient with possible complications and explain how to prevent them.

• How to avoid the complications of diabetes?

First of all, long-term compensation of diabetes (glycated hemoglobin level below 7%) is necessary, which depends on adherence to a correctly established diet, correct treatment and adequate physical activity. Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is necessary. To prevent vascular complications, in addition, it is necessary to regularly monitor and maintain a normal level of blood pressure (below 130/80 mm Hq). the level of triglycerides (below 1.7 mmol / l), cholesterol in the blood (below 4. 8 mmol / l). Taking into account the special sensitivity of the feet to injuries and the danger of the so-called “diabetic foot”, constant care of the feet is needed, which consists in wearing comfortable shoes, treating small wounds and hygienic care of the skin of the feet.

• What should a patient with diabetes carry with them when they are away from home and on the road?

Each patient must carry an identity card with passport details and a phone number, with clear indications of the drugs used, a supply of antidiabetic drugs or insulin. Do not forget to have a few pieces of sugar in your pocket in case of hypoglycemia, and a glucometer is often necessary.

• What diseases or medicines make the condition worse?

If the patient falls ill with another disease, two situations may arise:

1. The disease will worsen the state of diabetes compensation and there will be an increase in sugar levels, which will necessitate an increase in the dose of drugs or insulin.

2. The patient does not eat during illness and hypoglycemia may occur, then it is necessary to recheck the blood sugar level and possibly reduce the dose of the hypoglycemic drug. In case of serious illnesses, the patient should be admitted to the hospital and the compensation for diabetes should be adjusted quickly. Therefore, in case of infectious diseases with high temperature, before planned operations, in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with lack of appetite and vomiting, medical supervision is necessary, and if necessary, the patient should be admitted to the hospital.

• Diabetes self-management.

At present, the treatment of the patient and the achievement of normal blood sugar levels include the mandatory self-monitoring of blood sugar at home. This requires a glucometer with test strips. The use of a glucometer is taught in “diabetes schools”.

• Do you need to have a blood test every time you visit a doctor, maybe a urine test is enough?

Urinalysis data is not enough, a blood test for glycemia or glycated hemoglobin will better determine the state of compensation and allow you to change the treatment regimen if necessary.

Today, diabetes is no longer a disease that would deprive patients of the opportunity to live, work and play sports normally. Subject to the diet and the correct regimen, with the modern possibilities of treatment with insulin and pills, the life of a patient is no different from the life of healthy people.

Department of Medical Prevention 2022

Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus – vision is at risk

Preventable diabetes

Childhood diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease caused by metabolic disorders due to a deficiency in insulin synthesis and an increase in blood sugar. The disease can lead to the development of a number of serious pathologies.

CAUSES AND TYPES

There are two types of diabetes. Type I is manifested by insufficient production of insulin, and type II – by the body’s resistance to insulin. Pregnancy diabetes is also highlighted.

Type I diabetes is more commonly diagnosed in patients under thirty years of age. In most cases, it develops due to deterioration of the pancreas due to a viral disease or exposure to toxins.

Diabetes mellitus type II is manifested due to resistance to insulin (with a normal content, the cells remain insensitive to it). The majority of diabetics suffer from type II disease. Older people are more prone to it, as over the years there is a decrease in sugar tolerance. There are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing type II diabetes:

• heredity;
• overweight;
• malnutrition;
• diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
• chronic stress;
• taking certain medications;
• chronic adrenal insufficiency.

SYMPTOMS

Diabetes mellitus is expressed in the following symptoms:

• constant feeling of thirst, which does not stop when drinking liquids;
• frequent urination;
• increased appetite;
• dry skin, itching, pustular infections;
• decreased performance, insomnia;
• cramps in calves;
• decreased vision.

Note that it is not uncommon for a disease to be completely asymptomatic for a long time. It is possible to identify it only after passing the tests.

DIAGNOSIS

The main diagnostic method is laboratory tests. So, the presence of diabetes is indicated by elevated levels of sugar in the blood and urine. In addition, the specialist may prescribe additional studies (ultrasound of the kidneys, EEG of the brain, etc.).

TREATMENT

Diabetes therapy is aimed at reducing glucose levels, normalizing metabolic processes and preventing complications.

The doctor’s instructions should be followed throughout life. This mainly concerns the observance of a special diet. The severity of the diet depends on the form of the disease.

Medication is also used in the treatment of diabetes. The list of necessary drugs is determined by the doctor in accordance with the form of diabetes, the presence of complications and the general health of the patient.